Professional Development
What are Professional Competence Schemes?
Professional Competence Schemes are the fomal structures provided for under Part 11 of the MPA 2007 to ensure that all doctors registered and working in Ireland maintain their education, knowledge and skills (competence) at an acceptable level.
While the term "Professional Competence Schemes" is new, many of the activities that the schemes will involve are already in existence. For example, when a doctor applies for entry on the Specialist Division of the Register (formerly RMS) they are asked to provide:-
- Evidence of appraisals/assessments from trainers and colleagues
- Certified copies of log books and other training records
- Results of clinical audit and peer review
- Copies of RITA assessments from the UK or alternative training assessments
- Evidence of continuing professional development (certificates, courses attended etc.)
- Information regarding specialty and sub-specialty caseload
- Validated copies of on-call rotas and work programme
- Details of research and publications
- Validated evidence of participation in teaching, lecturing and management
- Results of multi-source feedback including 360° feedback
- Professional Competence Schemes will provide a formal structure for recording and documenting participation in such activities.
Who do Professional Competence Schemes apply to?
Professional Competence Schemes, once in full operation, will apply to all doctors whose names are entered in the General and Specialist divisions of the Register. Trainees, including interns, may not be required to provide evidence of participation in Professional Competence Schemes as long as they can provide evidence that they are enrolled in a formal training programme supervised by a Postgraduate Training Body.
Do I have to participate in Professional Competence Schemes?
Under the MPA 2007 all doctors whose names are entered in the General and Specialist divisions of the Register will be required to participate in mandatory Professional Competence Schemes once Part 11 of the Act comes into operation.
What will happen if I fail to/ refuse to participate in Professional Competence Schemes?
Under the MPA 2007 any doctor who refuses to co-operate, fails to co-operate or ceases to co-operate with requirements under the Act to participate in Professional Competence Schemes will be the subject of a complaint to the Medical Council's Preliminary Proceedings Committee.
What is involved in Professional Competence Schemes?
Under the MPA 2007, the Medical Council will develop a number of Professional Competence Schemes for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the ongoing maintenance of professional competence of Registered Medical Practitioners. At this stage it is suggested these schemes should initially consist of three main elements: Continuous Professional Development (CPD), Clinical Audit and Multi Source Feedback.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Practitioners will be enrolled in CPD activities as defined by the Training Body for that specialty and will be required to submit evidence of their participation in educational activities. It is envisaged that doctors will be expected to participate in 50 CPD hours per annum (250 hours over a five year period).
Click here for more information in relation to CPD.
Clinical Audit
Clinical Audit can be defined as the "systematic review and evaluation of current practice with reference to research based standards to improve patient care." The setting of standards, measurement of practice compared to 'gold standard', identification of deficiencies and addressing deficiencies (closing the loop) is an accepted model of clinical audit.
Multi-Source Feedback (MSF)
This is a process of gathering information about a doctor from a range of colleagues, other members of the healthcare team, trainees, managers and patients. it is sometimes referred to as a 360° assessment.
Click here for more information in relation to MSF.
What happens when there are concerns about a doctor's professional competence?
While the Professional Competence Schemes will provide all practitioners with a method or process by which they can provide evidence of competence, there is also a requirement to provide much more extensive assessment of practice where an issue or problem is identified, e.g. non-engagement with a scheme. This may lead to a doctor being obliged to participate in a performance assessment.Performance Assessment is a tool that will be used to assess under-performing doctors or doctors against whom concerns have been raised in relation to their professional performance.
Click here for more information in relation to Performance Assessment.
What kind of activities will be accredited for CPD?
As a general rule, educational activities that are sponsored by Postgraduate Training Bodies will automatically generate CPD/CME points. These will include regional and national scientific meetings, conferences, workshops, personal learning and international conferences organized by equivalent bodies in other countries. The Postgraduate Training Bodies are responsible for attributing CPD/CME points to various professional activities. For more information on recording CPD/CME for your specialty please contact your Postgraduate Training Body.
For Training Body contact details, please click here.
What if I do not complete enough CPD hours within a year?
Doctors should complete an equivalent of 50 hours of CPD activity every year. If you have not completed, or cannot complete, 50 hours in a year, the Medical Council will consider whether the reasons for not completing the required hours is sufficient in the circumstances. If you think that you may have difficulty in fulfilling the CPD requirements you should contact the Medical Council at the earliest opportunity.
What should I do now to participate in Professional Competence Schemes?
Once Part 11 of the Act is commenced, doctors will be required to participate in Professional Competence Schemes. In the meantime doctors whose names are entered on the Specialist Division are encouraged to participate in voluntary CME programmes supported and organised by their Postgraduate Training Body. If your name is entered in the Specialist Division of the Register and you wish to participate in Professional Competence Schemes, please contact the Professional Competence Unit for further information at pc@mcirl.ie
I only work part-time. Do I still have to complete 50 hours of CPD per annum?
Yes. Even if you only work part-time you must provide evidence of full participation in CPD activities (50 hours per annum).
Where can I get more information about Professional Competence Schemes?
We try to keep the information on the Professional Competence section of the website up to date with the most recent information on the development of the Schemes. However, if you have any questions relating to Professional Competence Schemes that are not answered here, you can contact the Professional Competence Unit at pc@mcirl.ie